A MAN who shot his girlfriend in a fit of jealousy was sentenced in the Port Shepsone Regional Court last Friday.
When Fana Mzwandile Advocate Msomi (24) from Izingolweni discovered on August 12 that his girlfriend, Londika Ndlovu (21), had more than one boyfriend, he shot her dead.
Chief Magistrate Johan Bester sentenced Msomi, who has been out on bail, to 10 years’ imprisonment, five of which are suspended for a period of five years. Msomi also received a 12 month sentence for the illegal possession of a firearm.
On the day of the fatal shooting, Msomi took a firearm which belonged to his uncle and loaded it, with the intention of using it to scare Ndlovu. Ndlovu challenged him to shoot her, and he did.
After Ndlovu dropped to the ground, Msomi tried to shoot himself but the firearm jammed. Msomi ran into the bushes where he stabbed himself in the throat and midriff. He suffered severe blood loss and collapsed, but was later found by his family.
Magistrate Bester said when sentencing Msomi he had taken into account that he was a first time offender and not a hardened criminal. He had also expressed remorse and and Magistrate Bester felt he could be rehabiliated.
